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2016 Cheltenham Festival Preview Nights

Old Vic said:
Dublin Racing Club

https://twitter.com/DublinRacingClu
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Borrowed this :)

Went to one last night specifically as Barry O'Connell was on the panel and thought he had some interesting runners probably under the radar.

He gives a big shout to Ballychorus - excellent form albeit 2 falls. Receives 7 lbs and Clements rides - very good value at 16s/20s. My concern was two final fence falls - probably tiring - but has experience.

Also Foxrock has been schooled twice in Punchestown recently - 2nd time there he was electric. Conditions races v handicap now so he is well in if he takes to the course


and another version


Barry Connell was way better than i thought he'd be He knows his stuff, goes to all the schooling races etc.

Most were against Min, said he's way too free. BC said he ran away with Ruby down to the start the last day and said Ruby has been getting freebe's the last few yrs at Chelts but wont this yr.BC & Andy Mac like Yorkhill where ever he goes. TK likes Tombstone but worried he folded the last day, AMac said he's soft.

Douvan is a surt, could win the CH an hr later.

AP is way too short most thought. TK said Identity Thief should be 3/1.A negative they are even thinking about running Nic Can in the Stayers.A few like Sempre Medici ew.

BC very negative about More of That - injuries, bleeder, won 2 poor races, missed targets.

He was also against Smashing in the Ryanair - has no hope.

They weren't keen on Yanworth - Long Dog & Yorkhill ew alternatives.

Most liked Thistlecrack. BC not sure he's improved past some of last yrs novices as much as his mark suggests, esp on better gnd.

Sean Flanagan said RTR was too slow for the Ryanair said he sat on him the other day and couldnt believe how slow he was.

SF said that Monksland has been down to Paul Carberry's to jump the solid poles And he schooled him at Leop on Tuesday and he winged them. Said he's been getting close to NHM despite clouting 3/4 each race, BC likes him too.

BC very bullish about Ballychorus in the 4 miler

Didn't care about how much weight Blue Hell was given, said he'll win the Arkle next yr

Was also bullish about Velvet Maker, his nap.

Foxrock - said he's a 156 horse so isn't good enough for the GC etc, as above likes the x-country, conditions of the race suit him. Not all horses take to it (On His Own) but he has.

Still seems bullish on Blue Hell's chances in the county even though he has gone up in the weights significantly - they think the world of him - could be grade 1 horse

Martello Tower is in great form but has it all to do as he thinks a lot of Thistlecrack

Tully East goes for the Martin Pipe with Shane Shorthall riding - form is good and thinks he could be well in

Finally he thinks Velvet Maker is 2nd best 2 mile novice in Ireland and that may be good enough to win the Grand Annual
 
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Preview night chaired by Matt Chapman last night, which I've tried to make a bit easier to read than a big block, lol.

Supreme

RR – Min is probably our best novice and certainly the fastest. He’s very good but he is short and I’m sure he’ll be bigger on the day. He’s not as good as Douvan but he could be better than Vautour. I’m not sure how good he is but I think he could be very good. Having said that, I do respect both of Nicky’s horses.

PK – If you want to back Min wait until the day because someone will go 2/1 and that would be tempting but I think Altior is one of Nicky’s best. If Min hadn’t had the hype around him I think Altior would be favourite; he did everything right at Kempton and is my NAP of the meeting.

JC – I spoke to Nicky [Henderson] this afternoon and he’s very bullish about Altior. I personally think Min will win by around six lengths but he’s the wrong price at the moment.

MC – 17 of the last 20 places have been filled by bumper horses and Min wasn’t a bumper horse, however I think he can overcome the stats and prove to be too good.

STD – If I could ride any horse it would be Altior. He’s had four runs and has learned a lot and I’ve fallen in love with him. I think Buveur Dair will be too keen.



Neptune

PK – If Yanworth reproduces the form he showed at Cheltenham last time out on better ground he will win.

JC – Yanworth looks a machine. We haven’t see him have to battle yet though and I think 8/1 about A Toi Phil is a great each-way bet; I can see the race cutting up and I can’t see him being out the first three.

RR – We like Long Dog a lot; he’s very tough and I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t make the frame; I’d back him each-way.

MC – I think Yanworth is the best value short-priced favourite of the Festival



Handicaps

PK – I’m getting confident about Fingal Bay in the Ultima Handicap Chase; he’s been crying out for good ground over fences. I also like Killer Crow in the Novice Handicap Chase. Gordon Elliott entered him at Trials Day and I believe he had no intentions of running him but wanted to see what mark the handicapper would give him. He unsurprisingly hasn’t run since and I think he is interesting off a mark of 136 on better ground.

JC – I like the Charles Byrne-trained Leave at Dawn in the Pertemps. He won well at Cheltenham in November and is the one for me. I also like Doctor Harper on the first day; he is handicapped on his form over 2m but I think he’s been crying out for 3m. Orbasa is another one; he’s trained by Paul Nicholls and won at Fontwell recently; he’ll be suited by the step up in trip if he runs in the Novices’ Handicap Chase and will be carrying my money. One more would be Hawk High for the Easterby’s in either the County or the Coral Cup. He’s won off a higher mark and I like the fact he has Festival form.



Albert Bartlett

JC– I’d be against Barters Hill and I think Thomas Hobson has a little bit of Flat class, he could rattle him.

RR – I’ll be taking on Barters Hill with Thomas Hobson who I think will run a huge race; he’s mad and does his own thing though.

STD – Gangster is interesting for me. I think a horse with more speed will go past Barters Hill after the last and that could be either Gangster or Mr Ricci’s horse, Thomas Hobson.



Triumph

STD – This race will determine if I keep my job! Nick [Schofield] will ride Zubayr and Sean [Bowen] will ride Frodon. I’ve got to pick from Tommy Silver, Clan Des Obeaux and Connetable. Clan Des Obeaux worked with Dodging Bullets this morning and he was very impressive and I’m leaning towards him but it wouldn’t take much to swing back to Connetable; I’ll sit on him next week. I was gutted when he [CDO] got beat at Cheltenham last time out and he rides like a future chaser. The one could be Connetable; he beat Peace & Co and Rayvin Black, and the form looks good. He’s rated 150 so has to go there with a real chance, but it’s a tough decision between Connetable and Clan Des Obeaux.

PK – Ivanovich Gorbatov won a Maiden Hurdle and was then thrashed when he was stepped up in grade and I can’t for any reason see why he’s still favourite. He made one mistake and threw the towel in and he looks soft to me. Who Dares Wins is the one for me; he won three times on the Flat including on good, good to firm, and you want to see this horse off the bridle six out, which you will in the Triumph and I think he’s good value at 14/1.

RR – We run Let’s Dance and I thought she ran very well last time out. I think she’s the forgotten horse in the race and she was still very green and could be outstanding value.



Fred Winter

STD – Diego Du Charmil worked with Zubayr at a racecourse galloped and quickened up nicely and worked the better of the two. Paul [Nicholls] said straight away that he would go straight to the Fred Winter and he looks very well-handicapped off 136. He’s Paul’s best chance of a winner.



Martin Pipe

RR – I think Children’s List could run really well in the Martin Pipe; I think he’s the forgotten horse.



Arkle

RR – [Douvan] He’s something special and he’s done everything so effortlessly so far. He’s huge and he’s a monster and I would be disappointed if he lost. For Willie to say he could be the best he’s ever trained is a huge indicator to me. He’s the best I’ve ever owned and the Arkle is the right race for him.
When asked by MC if he thought Douvan could beat Un De Sceaux he said: “I think so.”

PK – Douvan will win, but the bet for me is Sizing John without Douvan at 4/1. I think that’s amazing value; he’s a big horse who is made for chasing and will be second to Douvan.

JC – I think Douvan will win. I was speaking to Nicky [Henderson] and he said Vanituex schooled this morning and he’s never seen anything like it and could be one of the best horse he’s run in the Arkle; he’s very sweet on him.



JLT

MC – Philip Hobbs said to me about 80 minutes ago that Garde La Victoire is probably going to run in the JLT.

PK – This is one race I’m finding very hard. Bristol De Mai is a very good horse but needs to show he can do it on good ground. Zabana is a lively outsider for me on decent ground.

RR – I like Garde La Victoire in this race. Pont Alexandre won’t run in this, he will run in either the RSA or the 4-miler.

JC – I hope Willie runs Black Hercules in this race; he travels and jumps well and he’d have a great chance in this.

STD – Bristol De Mai is our [Nigel Twiston-Davies’] best chance of a Festival winner; he’s training well and is in great form. If it was soft ground I’d be very confident, but he might not find it as easy on good, having said that I think he’ll take a lot of beating.



RSA

JC – No More Heroes shouldn’t be favourite, More Of That should be. He’s run at Cheltenham four times and won four times. He gave Annie Power 7lb in the World Hurdle and I really hope they run him in this race.

PK – [More Of That] He’d be odds-on if this was over hurdles, but top-class hurdlers don’t always make top-class chasers. However, I think he should be favourite. I do think No More Heroes is the 2017 Gold Cup winner though, I’ve been very keen on him for a long time but when he has run in graded races not on soft he’s got beat, which is a question he has to answer. I think Monksland each-way at 33/1 could be the value.

STD – I ride Le Mecury in this race and he’s got an each-way squeak. He s#*t himself at Doncaster but better ground will suit him.

RR – More Of That for me.



Handicaps

STD – We run Bouvreuil in the last race on the first day. He beat Vyta Du Roc, admittedly over 2m3f, but he’s been aimed at the race by Paul for some time. He’s keen but will be dropped in and I think he will come home well.



Champion Hurdle

RR – When the news broke about Faugheen it was devastating, but he’ll stay over hurdles; he has the chance to the highest rated hurdler of all time. It’s far from a done deal that Annie Power runs in the Champion Hurdle as we think she deserves to win at Cheltenham. All I can say is that she is gleaming in her coat and I’ve not seen her look this good for a long time.

PK – The 7lb allowance Annie Power would receive is massive and she’s good enough to win it. The first and second favourites have come out; she’s a superstar and none of the others are and the race is there for the taking. I wouldn’t have a big bet on anything in the race, though. Annie Power should go for the race and she probably wins but I couldn’t back her at that price. You can pick holes in the form of every horse in the race.

STD – [The New One] He was very unlucky two years ago when everything went wrong for him and he still nearly won. Last year all he was doing before the race was swimming which meant he was only maintaining his fitness; when a horse gallops they get bigger and stronger, and he couldn’t do that. This year will be the best form we’ve ever got him to the race in and he’s got a great chance. If he finished 3rd or 4th then we just have to accept that’s how good he is. In comparison to Old Guard, The New One has been there and done it, Old Guard hasn’t but he could still potentially be a very good horse. He was flat out all the way against Faugheen in the Christmas Hurdle and he could be one for the Aintree Hurdle.



World Hurdle

JC – Thistlecrack will be very hard to beat.

STD – Saphir Du Rheu is in great form and if we do things differently this year we could reverse the form with Cole Harden. He’s had a wind op but has had a better prep than Aux Ptits Soins, which is why I’ve chosen to ride him. Aux Ptits Soins has had lots of problems and does need to improve, but he could. I think Saphir has a great chance; this is a different kettle of fish for Thistlecrack but he is still the one to beat.

JC – I like Whisper each-way.



Champion Chase

PK – I think the British 2m form is very poor. My bet would be God’s Own without Un De Sceaux at 4/1 as he followed him home in the Arkle last year.

JC – Un De Sceaux looked more mature at Ascot and jumped much better. I think Ruby has more confidence in him and as 4/6 shots go, he’s probably as good as it gets.

STD – Dodging Bullets is a lot better now than when he ran at Newbury. He’s had a racecourse gallop and is in great
nick. He needs to improve a stone on his Newbury run but there’s no reason he can’t improve two stone on better ground. There will be lots of pace on with UDS and Special Tiara and he stays a little further so he can follow the pace. He has to improve from Newbury but I think he can.

RR – Outside of Un De Sceaux I can’t have Dodging Bullets or Special Tiara; I’d love Sprinter Sacre to win, it would be great for racing.



Ryanair

RR – Vautour is working out and if he’s right he will run in the Gold Cup, if he’s not right then he won’t run at all. He’s better on better ground and a stone better left-handed. The Gold Cup’s where we want to go, that’s the race we want to win and it’s full steam ahead for the Gold Cup; I think he’ll stay

PK – [Vautour] He recorded a RPR of 180 in the King George so why on earth would you go down in trip.

STD – Vibrato Valtat has an each-way chance. Stepping up in trip will suit him and he’s been schooling nicely. The race looks like cutting up and he will hopefully nick a place, or even go one better and win it.



Gold Cup

RR – Who Ruby will ride will depend how they work nearer the time but Vautour will still run if Ruby decides to ride Djakadam; I think he’s got a very hard decision to make and Paul Townend will have first choice on whichever horse Ruby doesn’t ride. On class it would have to be Vautour but on form it would have to be Djakadam. I’m not concerned about Djakadam’s fall at Cheltenham, it was a silly, lazy mistake but he’s in great form and is only 2/3 days behind where he needs to be but that can be made up.

JC – Everyone connected with Vautour thinks he’s a Gold Cup horse. Willie [Mullins] is convinced on good to soft ground he’ll stay and if it was good to soft I’d run him in the Gold Cup. I think Djakadam getting his arse too high in the air is his Achilles heel; he’s been to Cheltenham three times and fallen twice. I’d imagine Ruby will ride Vautour and he’s the one for me too.

STD – Cue Card is the best of the English challengers but the one which will be doing everything the easiest coming to three out will be Vautour and he’d be the one that I would want to be on.

PK – Don Poli is far too slow to win a Gold Cup – Don Slowly is his name. Last year’s RSA Chase is one of the worst races you’ll see at Cheltenham; that form is s#*t. He only beat Many Clouds by four lengths getting 5lb, Smad Place smashed Many Clouds on more or less the same terms. Put it this way, if Ruby Walsh could ride Vautour, Djakadam or Don Poli, he’d be 50/1 to ride Don Poli; he’s got no chance whatsoever and I can’t see why he’s the price he is. The winner will be either Vautour or Don Cossack; if Vautour stays then he wins.
 
Tote Cheltenham Preview at Kildare House Hotel

Our panel for tonight is
Kevin O'Ryan (KOR),
Gary O'Brien (GOB),
Joesph O'Brien (JOB),
Jonathon Burke (JB),
Sandra Hughes (SH) &
Pat Brennan

Supreme

GOB thinks Yorkhill might be the way to go in the Supreme, no value backing Min #Cheltenham
JB likes Supasundae each way in the festival opener thinks Altior is the biggest danger #Cheltenham

Arkle
PB thinks Douvan is the banker of the week but likes Sizing John to follow him home #Cheltenham
JB "the only way Sizing John will win is if Douvan falls". Confirms the Ankle is the target #Cheltenham
GOB also thinks Sizing John is the one to follow Douvan home. JOB thinks the race could be run to suit The Game Changer for second

Gordon Elliott makes a brief appearance, tells us to watch out for Missy Tata and Our Father in handicaps

Champion Hurdle
GOB doesn't think Annie Power is a betting proposition in the Champion, likes Identity Thief on decent ground. Sempre Medici each way
JOB gives My Tent Or Yours a chance in Champion, thinks they have done a lot of work to relax him
SH likes Nichols Canyon. "My father (Dessie) always used to say you needed a 2m5f horse to win a Champion, he should be staying on up hill"

GOB would be very sweet on Roi Des Francs if he runs in the 4 miler #Cheltenham


Neptune
Mixed thoughts on Yanworth from the panel, general consensus he is a bit short.
Long Dog best at a price for the Neptune #Cheltenham

RSA
PB very sweet on More Of That for the RSA, JB likes No More Heroes but not so sure after talk for MOT #Cheltenham

Champion Chase
GOB sees Felix Younger as the value bet in the Queen Mother. "Sprinter Scare 70% the horse he was at his peak" #Cheltenham
JB sees Sizing Granite as a great value each way bet at 33/1 for the QM. Will probably have to ride him quietly due to pace in race

Bumper
JOB not sure if Aspen Colorado will go to the Champion Bumper yet. Has a good chance if he does. #Cheltenham
Good reports for Ballyandy from JOB through his cousin Johnny Slevin.
JB sat on New To This Town this morning, happy with him #Cheltenham
GOB says the vibes from Mullins yard suggest Avenir D'Une Vie could be their best in the Bumper #Cheltenham

JLT
Panel all seem to be keen on the chances of Outlander in the JLT.
Zabana also getting a good mention #Cheltenham

Pertemps
Join The Clan is the one at a big price for PB in the Pertemps,
SH gives All Hell Let Loose a chance on better ground, hates heavy ground
GOB will be keen to go for whatever Barry Geraghty choses in the Pertemps, maybe Mall Dini at a bigger price, might go to Martin Pipe

Ryanair
GOB likes Smashing in Ryanair, JB reports him in great order, 2m on quick ground too sharp for him in Arkle last year, best ride of week

World Hurdle
Entire panel very keen on the chances of Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle, GOB "shocked if he gets beaten" #Cheltenham
JB doing his best to talk his way onto Lieutenant Colonel in World Hurdle. KOR (Davy Russel's agent) having none of it #Cheltenham

Mares Novice
Everyone thinks Limini is a formality in the New Mares Hurdle. Mrs. Mullins has given her as the NAP of the week #LumpOn


Triumph
JOB on Ivanovich Gorbatov "Very happy with him since Leopardstown, ground to blame last time. We think he's a very good horse" #Cheltenham
JOB gives Bacillus as a horse to watch out for in the coming weeks in a bumper
JB and GOB are both keen on Zubayr in the Triumph. Think Apple's Jade is value at 20/1 #Cheltenham

Albert Bartlett
Shantou Village getting a lot of love from the panel in the Albert Bartlett as the value alternative to Barters Hill #Cheltenham

Gold Cup
GOB "Bryan Cooper would be mad to get off Don Cossack in the Gold Cup" #Cheltenham
No-one on the panel seems to think Vautour will stay in the Gold Cup, Cue Card fancied in places #Cheltenham
 
Albatross Club

Banker & outsider tips from Nico De Boinville on @BetBright preview last night: Sprinter Sacre, Whisper in WH & A Hare Breath in County Hurdle
Rich Ricci @BetBright preview went Limini as his banker & Pont Alexandre his one to watch wherever he runs #CheltenhamFestival
Banker and Handicap picks for @BigCityBanker Sprinter Sacre & Desoto County @BetBright preview #CheltenhamFestival
The @AP_McCoy Festival Yankee from tonight's @albatross_club preview Limini (banker of whole week) Thistlecrack, Douvan & Un de Sceaux.


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Betway Preview

Betway Insider Cheltenham Preview - with Richard Johnson and Davy Russell

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I called over to the Ballygar Preview Night the other evening...

Kevin Blake (KB), Geoff Lester (GL), Mickey Fogarty (MF), Jane Mangan (JM), Gavin Lynch (GL), Johnny Ward (JW)

Supreme:
JW – Min is the real deal. Works better on Good ground, and in a different class to Yorkhill. Could be a 2nd Douvan. Alitor can hit a flat spot in his races. If Min settles he wins easily. Ruby will probably make the running on him. David Casey won’t let anyone else up on him at home.
KB – Min could be a bigger price on the day. Can’t really think of anything to take Min on with, even though he can be too free for his own good. Yorkhill is an EW shout, not wild on Nicky’s 2.
GL – Nicky loves Alitor, and he worked very well last week – “Kicked Buveur D’Air out of his way”. Reckoned that Nicky was offered Min but he failed the vet.
MF – Min will be better on good ground, and is “the real deal”. Willie’s lads like Yorkehill EW.
JM – Put up Bleu Et Rouge as an EW shout

Arkle:
MF – Douvan is the best horse in training
JW – Douvan is the best since Arkle. Sizing John is the bet W/O, Henry says to ignore the last day. The Game Changer should 1600/1 and not 16/1. Couldn’t get up the hill in Galway
JM – L’Ami Serge hangs like a gate, could go out over the railings
GL – Vaniteux will be 2nd, worked well the other day

Champion Hurdle:
MF – Annie Power’s jumping won’t be an issue in a CH. Identity Thief and Nichols Canyon were bottomed by the race in Leopardstown last time. Sempre Medici is a bit of EW value, going well at home. Has never seen Annie Power off the bridle at Willies.
GL – Annie will win this. The New One was trained in the pool last year and has had a much better prep this year. Hargam worked better that My Tent Or Yours last week. Peace And Co has had more problems that David Cameron and Hargam is there to keep the pace high.
JM – My Tent Or Yours is a Stupid Horse, just won’t drop the bit
JW – Sempre Medici is not good enough to lead out Annie Power at home. Annie Power is better than Artic Fire and would win this off level weights.
Neptune:
JM – Yanworth is all class, blown away with him. He could win over 1m4 on the flat. Like all Norse Dancer’s has a kink in him.
JW – Has had a good bet EW on A Toi Phil. Long Dog is not good enough.
MF – Would like to ride Long Dog, he is tough
KB – Thought Long Dog won a bit snugly last time, pulled out plenty when asked.

RSA Chace:
JM – A match between No More Heroes and More Of That
GL – Jonjo wanted to enter More Of That in the Gold Cup.
KB – More Of That has had a series of physical issues and is very hard to keep right. No More Heros is better on good ground. Is everything you want in a staying chaser. Scoped badly before Cheltenham (4/5 he reckons) and still rn a blinder.
JW – More Of That will go off favourite. JP reckons he won’t be beaten. Roi De Francs is a very decent EW price.
JM – Monksland is a prick of a horse, jumps into every fence like a bulldozer.
MF – Does not think that No More Heros is as good as Brian Cooper thinks he is. Cooper said “nothing has ever given him the feel this one has”. Thinks More Of That is a better horse. Black Hercules has no chance in this. However, rode in the bit of work behind Don Cossack and No More Heroes in a group of 135+ horses and they were all flat out off the bridle behind the 2.

Queen Mother:
JM – Un De Sceaux wins if he stays up. Sprinter Sacre has a bad heart and can’t breath. Special Tiara needs quick ground.
JW – Sizing Granite EW, Colm is very happy with him
KB – Reckons that Sprinter Sacre has more issues that Jonny Ward! Sizing Granite a decent EW bet in the race
MF – Wouldn’r back Felix Younger w/o, not good enough.
GL – UK horses can’t beat Un De Sceaux. Dodging Bullets has more holes in him that Donald Trump

Bumper:
MF - Augusta Kate does not work well at home
KB – New To This Town was very impressive in Gowran, his choice

JLT:
MF – Outlander will let you down. Not a fan of Black Hercules but working well – Ruby will ride him as he is a better jumper.
JW – Davy Russell says Zabana is not good enough
GL – Bristol De Mai will win this

Ryanair:
JW – Road To Riches is a massive price (5/1) NRNB
KB – Willie thinks that Valseur Lido will stay all day, has a good chance. Vatour would win this by half the track
JM – Josses Hill jumps like a camel, can’t give him a chance
MF – A terrible race. Road To Riches was bottomed at Leopardstown so won’t win
GL – A terrible race, a lot of soft horses in here.

World Hurdle:
KB – Thistlecrack is the best Odds against horse of the week.
JW – Mouse Morris and Eddie O’Leary think Alpha Des Obeaux will win this. Serious EW bet
GL – Nicky loves Saphir Du Rheu, backing him EW. Cole Harden will loke the ground and won’t be far away
Triumph:
MF – Connections love Ivanovic Gorbatov, will be much fitter on the day.
GL – Sceu Royal is a proper horse, confident he will run a massive race. Ivanovic Gorbatov the worst fav at the meeting
JB – O’Brien has trained Ivanovic Gorbatov for one day, ignore the last day
MF – Race will go to the UK. Does not like ex Ballydoyle horses, they have had a hard time when very young and are soured
JB – Who Dares Wins is too slow to win a Triumph
KB – Lets Dance EW, the Mullins lads love her. Fav should be 10/1 after the last day

Albert Bartlett:
MF – Loves Gangster but he is not easy to train. Brian Cooper is very sweet on him – will be placed at least

Gold Cup:
KB – Never liked a horse as much as Don Poli. Can’t see him falling, most efficient jumper he has ever seen. The Cheltenham form is not there for Don Cossack – he would need a really good day to win it. Vatour won’t get home
JM – Likes Djackadam, he will be happier going faster, does not hit a flat spot
MF – Vatour won’t win a Gold Cup. If Don Poli is within 4 lenghts at the 2nd last he wins. Brian Cooper will ride him. Ruby will ride Djackadam he thinks!!!
GL – The Irish will win it. Cue Card and Smad Place not good enough. Best Gold Cup since 2008. Disagrees with Mikey Fogarty and said Ruby will ride “the horse with class” Vatour

Other bits…
MF thinks Limini is a certainty, her work has been savage and it’s a shit race
KB – Blue Hall in the County, has lots in hand. Cause Of Causes in the Kim Muir
GL – Back Desoto County, got no run the last day. Dr Harper will win wherever he turns up. VVM is a penalty kick in the Mares race. Leave at Dawn will win the Pertemps if the ground is good.
JM – Nina is booked for Our Father so that will do her
 
cheers qzy :encouragement:
 
Great work on the thread again guys :encouragement:

Mikey Fogarty has a good insight into Mullins yard so really good to see someone speaking frankly about horses there.
 
Not a preview but a run through O'Leary runners

O’LEARY ON HIS FESTIVAL TEAM

Identity Thief
I think he’ll be my first runner in the Champion Hurdle. It’s extraordinary for the amount of runners we’ve had, we’ve never really had a two-miler with the exception of Trifolium. Whether this fellow wins the Champion Hurdle or not, he’s going chasing next season.
I’m generally pessimistic and there’s no point travelling with any expectation, but I don’t think he’s good enough. He couldn’t beat Nichols Canyon at Christmas when we ran him to see if he was good enough, and I don’t think it was inexperience that beat him.
That said, he showed he’s good enough to go to the Champion Hurdle, so we’ll hope for the best.

No More Heroes
He’s been great and I’d agree that he’s exactly the kind of horse we try to buy. He’s where we want him to be but the RSA looks a good race this year and he’ll have it all to do.
More Of That brings World Hurdle form to the race and maybe we’re a bit unfortunate to be taking on a very good World Hurdle winner. Roi Des Francs will run too, I think; he has clearly earned a shot at a Grade 1 title and especially one that will involve stamina.

Alpha Des Obeaux
I’d have preferred him to have gone chasing this season but he had a bit of an interrupted preparation and if they haven’t won a beginners by the end of November and are in the mix for the Graded chases at Christmas, it’s a case of “right, let’s wait”.
Besides he was only five-rising-six, so you have that extra year. His form last season was quite good and he was upsides Thistlecrack when he fell at the last at Aintree, so that gives him a shot at the Ryanair World Hurdle.

Outlander
He’s always been a good horse. He was very good in bumpers and had a reasonable novice hurdle campaign but it didn’t work out for him when he went to the Neptune last year and finished sixth – then his form had tailed off by Punchestown.
He was always going to be a better chaser and, while he wasn’t that impressive at Limerick at Christmas, he was very good at Leopardstown. The form suggests he’s good enough to go for the JLT and he’s clearly our best two-and-a-half-mile novice chaser.

A Toi Phil
He’s on the boat and Willie [Mullins] wants to take him to the Neptune. My worry would be his inexperience but his form suggests he deserves to take a chance.

Tombstone
He goes there as a live outsider but needs to improve greatly on what he showed us at Leopardstown at Christmas and also in the Deloitte. Neither of those runs would be good enough. He might improve for the better ground but I would question his resolution.
 
gigginstown said:
A Toi Phil
He’s on the boat and Willie [Mullins] wants to take him to the Neptune. My worry would be his inexperience but his form suggests he deserves to take a chance.
Click to expand...

That comment seems at odds with the way the horse has been supported in the market. Possibly, it might have been each-way at 20/1 after his last win but more recently people still backing him at single figure prices.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cheltenham?src=hash">#Cheltenham</a> Prev Eve Tues 8pm, Pudsey Liberal Club, Leeds, <a href="https://twitter.com/garethtopham">@garethtopham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/STurnerTipster">@STurnerTipster</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/holding_andy">@holding_andy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces">@AtTheRaces</a> Andy Gibson & Matt Taylor</p>— Gareth Topham (@garethtopham) <a href="https://twitter.com/garethtopham/status/706432199382454273">March 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Dunraven tonight ...hoping for updates from https://twitter.com/ckSportLeader

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In <a href="https://twitter.com/DunravenArms">@DunravenArms</a> for annual Cheltenham Preview night. Top class line up of racing experts & big crowd in the house! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CheltenhamFestival?src=hash">#CheltenhamFestival</a></p>— Colm Kinsella (@ckSportLeader) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckSportLeader/status/706586405187796992">March 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

and

https://twitter.com/_fearanphoist

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's 9.45pm and we're almost ready to kick off the preview night proper! Full report in Tuesday's Racing Post but updates to follow tonight</p>— Jonathan Mullin (@_fearanphoist) <a href="https://twitter.com/_fearanphoist/status/706596873520455680">March 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


It's that time of the year again:

I'll be tweeting updates from the Dunraven Arms Hotel Preview Night later.

Panel inc N Luck, T Segal, O Sherwood, A McNamara, R Johnson & S Claisse (by phone), and JP McManus and AP McCoy in audience taking qs Harry Fry also on panel here in Adare. The table plan has intriguingly paired handicapper Noel O'Brien with handicap king Charles Byrnes...

John Thomas McNamara, Nina Carberry and Ted Walsh also here - and Nina has just purchased a jumps saddle in the charity auction!

Should mention that tonight's preview (and auction) is all in aid of the Robbie McNamara Fund

It's 9.45pm and we're almost ready to kick off the preview night proper! Full report in Tuesday's Racing Post but updates to follow tonight

Simon Claisse (by phone): "every course will soft by the middle of the week" with significant rain expected on Monday and Tues but from Thursday onwards, it's expected to be significantly warmer". Old course & X-Country currently gd-sft, New, sft-in-pls

The almost unanimous verdict of the panel for the Supreme is...Altior. "He'll love that hill," says Tom Segal

Harry Fry says Noel Fehily wants to ride Shantou Village in the Albert Bartlett...meaning he's thinking Uknowwhatimeanharry will go Pertemps

JP McManus: "barring accidents I think On The Fringe is my best chance of a winner at Cheltenham. I'm told he's in great form."

Nick asks panel for best bet in novice chases,
Segal says Vyta Du Roc; Fry and Sherwood say Garde De Victoire as long as he goes JLT

Both Tom Segal and Andrew McNamara tip up Sempre Medici each way in Champion Hurdle

Oliver Sherwood: lot of people in Lambourn say Sprinter Sacre is as good as he ever was
Segal: I think Sire De Grugy is an ew bet to nothing, Gary Moore convinced he has never had him as good. Good ground a big concern for UDS

Neither Tom Segal not Andrew Mc fancy Al Ferof in Ryanair, says Andrew: "if all of the favs don't turn up I still wouldn't fancy Al Ferof"

Let's Dance and Sceau Royal the Triumph chances - everybody negative on Ivanovich

Nina Carberry interviewed now: rides Southfield Royal in 4-miler and was happy with the way On The Fringe worked at Leop last week Nina also says Ivanovich would have a great chance if the ground was nice but "would be very wary" if it turned up soft

Andrew Mac: Bryan Cooper seems to be swinging the other way lately....by that I think he means towards riding Don Poli in the Gold Cup AP McCoy agrees with Andrew Mac: "I think Don Cossack is tailor-made for the Gold Cup"


Charity bets

Willie Power (sponsor)
On The Fringe
Foxhunter

Tom Segal
Superb Story
County Hurdle

Harry Fry
Vroum Vroum Mag
Mares’ Hurdle

Nick Luck
Garde La Victoire
JLT

Oliver Sherwood
Yanworth
Neptune

Andrew McNamara
Don Cossack
Gold Cup
 
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Will update in Morning but shocker to start at Dunraven

The almost unanimous verdict of the panel for the Supreme is...Altior.
"He'll love that hill," says Tom Segal

<iframe allowtransparency="true" src="http://media.paddypower.com/ad.aspx?bid=4767&pid=10064608" width="468" height="60" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
 
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Skybet event now being streamed.

The event will be streamed live across sportinglife.com, skysports.com and skybet.com as a star panel look for the best bets at next week's showpiece.

Super Sunday and Monday Night Football host Ed Chamberlin will be the Master of Ceremonies on the night as the pundits analyse the runners and riders for every race at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Sportinglife.com editor David Ord will host the panel, which features top trainer Warren Greatrex, jockey Denis O'Regan, Sky Sports racing presenter Alex Hammond, leading Irish journalist Donn McClean and Racing UK analysts Niall Hannity and Mark Howard.

Sky Bet's Racing PR manager Michael Shinners will be on hand to provide betting updates and special Price Boosts and he said: "We're really looking forward to the preview evening and hopefully it will be great night for those in Leeds Town Hall - and those watching online.

"It will be fascinating to get the latest on Cole Harden from Warren, Denis offered some great insight last year on horses from both sides of the Irish Sea and I'm sure plenty of winners will be found by all involved."

The action starts at 7.30pm.
 
Is the Skybet preview tonight OV??
 
Cheers Tim. I'm struggling to keep up with all the action at moment. The RUK preview will be tonight's viewing.
 
It was filmed this afternoon CW and is repeated all night. I recorded it but I'm sure you'll find a link on any of the streaming sites.
 
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